ASF woes, smuggling, traced to DA corruption, incompetence

THE Senate, seating again as the ‘Committee of the Whole’ in an effort to dig deeper into the origin of the country’s problem with the ‘African Swine Fever’ (ASF) and shortage in port meat supply, zeroed in on the corruption and “gross incompetence” at the Department of Agriculture (DA) after conducting two hearings on the issue last week.

In a media interview over the weekend, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, also absolved the Bureau of Customs (BOC) on the issue of pork smuggling that DA officials claimed was behind the entry into the country of the ASF and which resulted to the devastation of the country’s hog industry, resulting to supply shortages, especially in Luzon.

Asked about the result of the hearings the Senate conducted last April 12 and April 15, 2021, Sotto said, the incompetence at the DA is “serious” (‘matindi ang kapalpakan’).

Sotto said that even the report prepared by a special anti-corruption and anti-smuggling office (Compliance and Regulatory Enforcement Security Trade Office, CREST-O), created by DA chief, William Dar, showed the ‘modus operandi’ at the department to aid the smuggling and misdeclaration of agricultural and fishery products.

“So, talagang tama yung Bureau of Customs, hindi sila ang may sabit sa smuggling.

Ang may sabit, doon sa pag-iimport na ang dating ay legal, pero ang totoo noon, ay merong mga hindi narerehistro at hindi na-iinspeksiyon,” Sotto said.

Sotto also assailed the DA for now hastily acting to address the problem of ASF and pork supply, not by acting on the recommendations of industry stakeholders but, by lowering the tariff for imported pork while at the same time increasing the country’s ‘MAV’ (minimum access volume).

(See related story on this issue).

Sotto also rebuked the DA for insinuating the BOC should be blamed squarely for the entry of ASF, which he noted, is already around since 2018.

Mainly, the DA has insinuated that the BOC’s alleged lack of vigilance in inspecting the packages and “gifts” (‘pasalubong’) of returning Filipinos resulted to the entry of the ASF as it can survive under very low temperature.

“Pasalubong daw (source of ASF) at saka parang gusto pa nilang pagbintangan ang Bureau of Customs? I told them (DA) to stop already,” Sotto said, as he shared his colleagues disbelief in the DA argument that imported packages brought home by overseas Filipinos was behind the entry of ASF.

“‘Yun bang pasalubong, Pinapakain sa baboy? Hindi, hindi ba? Pagbibintangan na magkakaroon ng matinding ASF sa buong Luzon na nanggaling sa mga pasalubong nung mga umuuwing mga balikbayan, ganoon,” Sotto said, as he agreed that the DA is only looking for others to blame.

Sotto also credited the BOC officials, headed by Comm. Rey Leonardo Guerrero, for taking time to attend last week’s hearings, together with his deputy commissioners to answer all questions.

Sotto said the presence of Guerrero and his subordinates showed them not only as “brave” (‘matatapang’), but also showed they have nothing to hide and are sure of their actions.

Sotto said the cause of the hog industry’s present woes can be traced back to the policies of the DA where even undercapitalized, fictitious and non-existent companies are given accreditation and permits to import pork and meat products.

He also expressed disgust that instead of punishing agriculture officials already found to have committed abuses and mistakes, DA secretary William Dar, did not take action to charge them administratively but instead, threw the matter of disciplining them to the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).

Sotto said he agreed with Sen. Panfilo Lacson, author of the resolution that triggered the investigation, for the conduct of another round of hearing before wrapping up the probe.

He said the Senate might also amend certain laws to increase the capitalization requirements for those wanting to engage in the import business.